December 15, 2007	Saturday	Zilhaj 4, 1428

WASHINGTON, Dec 14: An amendment that would give the US government jurisdiction over amusement parks like Disneyland and another to almost completely eliminate lead from toys were rejected by a US House of Representatives committee fashioning a bill to make toys safer and increase enforcement.

The amendments, shot down on Thursday by the House Energy and Commerce committee, would have toughened a bill that already comes close to eliminating lead in toys and gives the CPSC more money and authority over toys sold in the US.

The legislation is being prepared to be sent to the House floor.

The language that would have given the government jurisdiction over parks like those run by Walt Disney Co was proposed by Rep. Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat.

Markey has claimed that amusement parks are not adequately inspected. His proposal would have made the CPSC responsible for such inspections.

Under current law, children’s jewellery, toy cars or other toys can legally be made largely of lead if that lead is inaccessible because it is covered with paint. The lead in the paint is limited to 600 parts per million.—Reuters